Claudia Jones: The Forgotten And Powerful Journalist Who Created The Notting Hill Carnival

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Without Claudia Jones, the vibrant Notting Hill Carnival wouldn’t exist. However, the visionary behind the popular Caribbean carnival is not well recognized and only a few people know her name.

Claudia Jones came up with the Notting Hill Carnival as a way to celebrate Caribbean culture after a racist fatal attack on a Caribbean man. 

This was a dangerous time because of the rise of racist and violent attacks against the black communities in England and when many Caribbean citizens were moving to the UK from 1948 to 1971. 

This topic explores the life and legacy of Claudia Jones, a journalist and communist who championed the rights of black people, a community activist who challenged racism and wrote about the experiences, exploitation and mistreatment of black women.

Who was Claudia Jones?

Claudia Jones was a Trinidadian journalist, community activist and founder of the West Indian Gazette newspaper and Notting Hill Carnival. Born Claudia Vera Cumberbatch on the 21st February 1915, in Trinidad and Tobago and grew up with 4 sisters.

She moved to Harlem, New York after her parents moved to the United States of America to seek better opportunities and a better quality of life.

Her mother died when she was only 13, she did well in school but financial issues prevented her from attending her high school graduation.

Furthermore, living in unfit living conditions affected her health and she was diagnosed with tuberculosis.

What did Claudia Jones do for a living?

Jones made a living by doing different jobs, one of which was writing for the local black nationalist newspaper, Harlem Journal. She was a member of the National Youth Communist League in 1936 and became a member of the National Association of the Advancement of Colored People.

Jones rose through the ranks and in 1937 she became the editor of the Daily Worker and in 1938 she edited the Weekly Review.

On top of that, it was dangerous to be a communist during the time because the American government was targeting people who were communists or people they suspected to be part of the political organisation.

In 1949 Jones published an article called An End To The Neglect of The Problems Of The Negro Woman. This article was significant at the time because it highlighted the neglect of issues facing black women from different political parties.

Why did Claudia Jones move to Britain?

Jones’ involvement with the political organisation led to her arrest and she served time in a Women’s prison for a year. She was released after 10 months and was deported to London in December 1955.

The British colonial governor Hubert Rance refused to let Claudia Jones return to Trinidad and Tobago in case she succeeded in empowering the people and mobilising the communities in her native country.

What did she do in London?

After arriving in London, she returned to political activism and journalism and observed the widespread racism that was afflicting black communities. In March 1958, she created the West Indian Gazette and Afro-Asian Caribbean News.

This was a local newspaper that focused on matters important to the black communities since the mainstream media focused on negative stereotypes of black people.

On the 30th January 1959, the Notting Hill Carnival took place at the St. Pancras Town Hall. The aim is to uplift and celebrate the Caribbean communities during difficult times as well as bring joy and not let the harsh realities of life bring them down.

“A people without a voice are lambs to the slaughter.”

-Claudia Jones

When did Claudia Jones pass away?

She died on Christmas Day 1964 in her sleep after her long battle with tuberculosis which affected her health since she was a child growing up in New York.

Her funeral was attended by many left-leaning colleagues and friends and she was buried in Highgate in London. After her death, the West Indian Gazette stopped selling the newspaper and Notting Hill Carnival is one of the most celebrated and popular Caribbean street festivals in Europe.

Final Thoughts

Claudia Jones was a remarkable and powerful woman, and she deserves her flowers for her commitment to equality and justice. We can draw lessons from her about not giving up on your goals, not letting the past have an effect on your future, and creating projects that can bring you fulfilment.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article about Claudia Jones’ life and legacy. I hope you enjoyed reading it. The aim is to write and highlight more black women who are hidden figures, like Claudia Jones.

If you are a black woman who is interested in black women in history, then you need to read this topic about the black women of the British Black Panthers. 

If you find this article inspirational, please share it with other black women who want to learn more about black history.

The next article will focus on rejecting the negative stereotype of a strong black woman. As usual, please share your thoughts and other content ideas with me in the comment section.